June 24, 2006

The meeting was called to order by Tomek Amborski at 5:45 pm.

Present were Deborah Bjonerud, Marty Young, Robert Cotter, Charles Cox, Sandor Mandoki, David Caldwell, Yuri Sobolev, Jane Meinhardt, Brian de Raad, Mike Slater, Jonathan Jefferies, Emily Vanderlaan, Harold Hayes, Arthur W. Lane, Gerard Biagini, Edmond Hon, Beau Mitchum, Greg Massialas, Ron Handelman, Stephan Murray, Sandra Ringener, Jim Liebich, Paul Soter, Maureen Griffin, Eric Dew, Valerie Rosenblatt, Elvirah Mah, Erik Batoog, Todd Russell, Charles Lucasey, Alex Mummery, William Cracraft, Tomek Amborski and Chloe Soroquere.

The proposed Agenda included:

(1) Approval of last Year?s Annual Meeting Minutes
(2) Reports from the Chair & Treasurer,
(3) Youth Summer Nationals Qualifiers Division Observers Reports,
(4) Bay Cup Task Force Report,
(5) Election of New Officers and
(6) Election of Representatives to the Annual Congress.

January 28, 2006 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously.

Officers Reports:
Tomek Amborski officially thanked his Northern California officers for their work and support throughout the year. He also thanked and acknowledged Sandra Ringener?s work maintaining and updating the website.

Tomek provided the Chair?s report and commented that although division observers were assigned to the qualifiers, there were still a few issues at each tournament. Tomek volunteered to prepare written detailed instructions for the Junior Olympics and National Qualifiers, outlining the qualifications of fencers, fence-off format required and number of medals needed, among other things.

In the absence of Glenn Willette, the treasurer, Tomek shared the Treasurer?s report. See Exhibit A attached.

Members asked about the details of the Division?s source of income (percentage of membership dues we get back from USFA). No information was available from Glenn?s report. Chloe and Tomek are to follow up with Glenn. There is no response to date on all inquiries.

Youth Summer National Qualifiers Report:
Chloe and Tomek reported on the last qualifiers they observed. Although there were no major issues, both reiterated the need for written instructions and various updated membership and ranking lists to be prepared and provided to observers in the future to allow for smoother process.

Bay Cup Task Force Report:
The Bay Cup Task Force representatives for the northern California are: Jonathan Jefferies, Michael Pacheco, Chloe Soroquere and Tomek Amborski. The overall task force also includes representatives from the Mountain Valley and Central California Divisions.

Jonathan Jefferies provided an update on the Bay Cup task force. The recommendation is to have the Bay Cup run by both the Northern and Central California Divisions, as Mountain Valley decided not to participate for the coming season.

The task force drafted a Bay Cup Charter to describe the responsibilities and organizational structure of the Bay cup. The two divisions executive boards are to appoint 1 to 3 representatives to the Bay Cup Board, although each division will only have 1 vote. The Bay Cup Board will assist the Bay Cup Administrator (to be designated by the BC board when appointed) run the Bay Cup activities. A Bay Cup Chair will be selected each year between the two Divisions chairs and the treasurers will alternate as well. An Operating Manual draft was also created. It will be a living document to be adapted by the Bay Cup Board and administrator as need be. Bay Cup fees are part of the Operating Manual and will be determined by the designated Board.

A motion was made to recommend that the Northern California Division will participate in the 2006-2007 Bay Cup season. The motion was approved unanimously except for one abstention.

A discussion ensued related to fees charged for the Bay Cup and the USFA regulations. The Bay Cup board will review all alternatives and recommend fees for the 2006-2007 season as part of the Operating Manual finalization.

One of the attendees recommended that the Bay Cup be split between divisions because it is perceived to be too big. Jonathan Jefferies recommended this should be evaluated by the Bay Cup board members as they finalize the Charter and Operating Manual.

Elections of New Officers:
Elections were held. The Nominating Committee slate was approved unanimously as presented. Jonathan Jefferies, Emily Vanderlaan, Chloe Soroquere and Edmond Hon were elected to the offices of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

Elections of Representatives to Congress:
Based on the size of the Northern California Division membership, we can have 8 representatives to Congress to attend the meeting at Nationals during which 4 officers at large are elected to the USFA Congress.

The following representatives were proposed and elected unanimously: Valerie Rosenblatt, Maureen Griffin, Paul Soter, Jane Meinhardt, Robert Cotter, Greg Massialas, David Caldwell and Chloe Soroquere.

New Business:

Bay Cup Awards and Budget:
A question was brought up about the status of the Bay Cup awards for the 2005-2006 season. Tomek advised that the decision on awards was pending final reconciliation of the budget being done by Dick King from Central California Division. Tomek stated that award certificates would be purchased and distributed to Bay Cup winners approximately two weeks after the Nationals. The exact number and value of certificates is still to be determined.

By-Laws Change:
Currently each club designates a representative to stand in for the club on the Northern California Executive Committee. A By-Law change was recommended to allow for the designation to change during the year so each club can always have a voting member participate in all Executive Committee decisions.

The recommendation is to amend Article IV. Executive Committee ? Election and Composition, 4.1 b to read as follows: ?One Club Representative designated to the Division Secretary at least five (5) days prior to an Executive Committee meeting by each fencing club located within the territorial??

The proposed amendment to the By-Laws was approved unanimously by all attendees and shall go in effect immediately.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 pm.